Despite challenging weather conditions at Ballyholme Yacht Club, more than 120 sailors took to the water to compete in the RYANI Youth Championships over the 23rd and 24th September 2017.
Megan and Conor have been sailing for approximately 6 years but apart from Regattas have not competed at any events. Conor has been racing on Wednesday nights and is often the only Topper sailor on the water. He took part at the Feva training at East Down in August with Jim Farrell from RYANI which he thoroughly enjoyed and at which he acquired the racing bug.
Megan won the Topper class in the East Down regatta much to her brother’s disgust, giving her a bit of much needed confidence, in her ability to race.
Not really knowing much about the NI Youth Championships, Dad entered Conor and his friend Ben Marsden in the Regatta fleet and Megan in the Topper regatta (beginners) fleet at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Sat and Sunday the 23rd-24th Sept. Ben also sails at East Down in a Laser radial and completed his Level 2 over the summer.
It was a marvelous event, very well organized but unfortunately the weather was terrible. Sailing on Saturday was cancelled, too windy and on Sunday they struggled to get any racing done with the very light winds.
Despite this Conor and Ben came first in the Feva regatta class and Megan got top girl also in the Topper Regatta class. Dad thanked the East Down sailing committee for their support and the loan of a Club Feva.
In the Feva class, Conor Allen and Ben Marsden from East Down Yacht Club took 1st boy and the overall prize and Aimee Cushley and Nikita Kirk from Strangford Lough Club won 1st girl.
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